Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Restaurant Review: Alexander's Steakhouse

I’ve been to Alexander’s several times over the years and
they’ve all been for company functions. It’s a good steakhouse, a cut – haha –
above some of the other ones I’ve gone to and where I’d recommend people go if
they want a nicer, classier steakhouse experience. I’ve also only ever gone
there for company-sponsored dinners because they’re expensive! They’re good but
expensive. You know I don’t mind paying for good food but….did I mention they
were expensive?

On my last visit, we were given a separate dining room
and a large square table which was nicer than the standard rectangular table
since that helped facilitate conversation when people aren’t spaced so far
apart. Alexander’s is all about the impeccable service and the classy
presentation. Everyone around me ordered either a salad or an appetizer. Having
been to Alexander’s before and understanding the ease with which I could slip
into a food coma if I made unwise choices, I opted for nothing prior to my
entrée but in true classy Alexander form, one of the waiters brought me a demitasse
of creamy carrot soup so I “wouldn’t feel left out” while the others enjoyed
their pre-dinner nibbles. Such a classy place.

Tuna Tartare

Trio of Sliders appetizers

Shrimp cocktail shot

Carrot Soup taster

For my entrée, once again mindful of food coma potential,
I opted for the halibut. I know, who gets fish at a steakhouse? Yeah, that
would be me. But it came with cute little siu mai dumplings! A coworker and I
split a side order of truffle mac and cheese but unfortunately our server got
the order wrong and brought out truffle fries. When we reminded her about our
correct order, she brought out the mac and cheese but it was barely lukewarm by
then so I don’t know if it had been sitting neglected somewhere before it made
its way to our table. It was good but both she and I thought the truffle mac
and cheese from Fleming’s was better. That’s the only misstep I’ve ever
experienced at Alexander’s.

Halibut with Siu Mai

Truffle Mac and Cheese

20-ounce prime rib

There were several impressive orders for the 20-ounce
prime rib. 20 ounces! That’s almost 7 servings of meat on one plate. I’m not
going to judge since I’m a fellow carnivore myself but let’s just say I’m glad
I stuck to the fish because by the end of the meal, I still had room for
dessert (insert smugness here). I opted for a chocolate dome thing for dessert
and my smugness only lasted a third of the way through the dome when I had to
concede defeat and no more room in my waistband. It was delicious but I’d had
enough.

Eclipse

Textures

Of course, no meal ends at Alexander’s until they bring
out the cotton candy they’re known for topping off the meal. I have no idea on
the history of it or why they do it but that’s what people come to expect when
they go there. I’m not a fan of cotton candy myself; that’s one kid experience
I never embraced and one my sweet tooth never hankered for. You either like
cotton candy or you don’t. I was in the don’t column but fortunately, my
coworkers balanced me out by embracing it with enthusiasm. So it’s a nice touch
to end a classy meal with something that could appeal to everyone’s inner
child. I have an old soul so maybe that’s why spun sugar didn’t do anything for
me.

Cotton Candy

In any case, Alexander’s doesn’t disappoint if you want
an elegant meal and have some extra pocket money to spring for it.